Lin Erxia walked over to the side and frowned slightly as she looked at Lin Zhuer, who was working with her head down.
“Alright, take a break and have some water first.”
Lin Zhuer suddenly looked up. Seeing the lunch tin in Lin Erxia’s hand, her face lit up. She quickly wiped her hands and took it.
Gulp, gulp—she drained it in one go, then lifted her head with a bright smile. “Thank you, Fifth Sister. The water was so sweet—I accidentally finished it all.”
“How come your shovel is so rusted?” Lin Erxia glanced at it and casually changed the subject.
Scratching her head, Lin Zhuer said softly, “This was the last one I got assigned. I couldn’t switch it out.”
Lin Erxia looked down at her reddened hands. “With your half-baked work skills and that piece of junk, you won’t even finish this in a whole day.”
Lin Zhuer’s face flushed hot, and she stammered, unable to respond.
“Why didn’t you ask your team leader to switch it for you?”
“The group leader said everyone has work to do, so it wouldn’t be fair to swap with me.”
“So she wants you to drag this out until nightfall with her? Here—use mine first.”
Lin Erxia took a few quick steps, grabbed her own shovel, and handed it over. Lin Zhuer’s eyes were full of gratitude.
“Thank you, Fifth Sister. You’re the best.”
Lin Erxia snorted lightly. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a group of girls nearby watching them—some openly, some covertly—and a couple of those looks weren’t friendly. It was obvious Lin Zhuer was being targeted.
Still, family was family. A small favor was fine—but helping her weed? No thanks. Lin Erxia preferred watching others work.
She took the broken shovel back to her spot, sat down, and didn’t move.
Wang Gaoli, who had just switched back to cutting grass nearby, glanced at the relaxed Lin Erxia and struck up a conversation. “Comrade Erxia, who was that just now?”
“My cousin,” Lin Erxia replied casually.
Wang Gaoli looked at Lin Zhuer, then back at Lin Erxia, eyes widening slightly. “You really can’t tell at all. You two look completely different. Look at you—like a bean sprout. And a dark one at that. Tsk, tsk.”
As soon as she said that, a few girls nearby couldn’t help but laugh.
Lin Erxia shot her a glance. “Funny how the same well water in the county can raise someone like a fairy—and also raise pigs for the New Year.”
New Year pigs, of course, meant big and fat.
Her gaze drifted back and forth between Wang Gaoli and Shen Xiaoxue.
Wang Gaoli was only a bit chubby, not stupid. She naturally understood the jab, but instead of getting angry, she just smiled, her round cheeks bunching together.
Before Wang Gaoli could reply, Xie Xiaolian, clutching a weed, spoke up angrily, “Lin Erxia, how can you insult people like that? We’re all classmates—we should help each other, not act like a shrew and curse people.”
Lin Erxia looked up at Xie Xiaolian. Still too inexperienced. Didn’t she notice how Wang Gaoli’s smiling face had instantly darkened?
What right did Xie Xiaolian have to butt in when the two of them were talking—especially with her annoying personality? And wasn’t she openly scolding her?
“Xie Xiaolian, don’t bark nonsense like a mad dog. When did Lin Erxia insult anyone? If you’ve got delusions, go get treated.
“And how exactly are we not good classmates? Think before you speak.”
Wang Gaoli’s fierce words instantly made Xie Xiaolian’s face turn red and silenced the others nearby. They couldn’t quite understand why Wang Gaoli had suddenly lashed out at Xie Xiaolian.
Lin Erxia shook her head and pressed the advantage. “Stop using the same old trick. It’s not like it works on everyone. See? You’ve kicked an iron plate this time—not everyone falls for your act.”
Xie Xiaolian looked at Lin Erxia’s mocking expression and found some courage again. “What nonsense are you talking about? I don’t understand a thing. You’re selfish—you don’t take the initiative to help your classmates, and you even give your tools to someone else.”
“Which eye of yours saw me not helping? Isn’t switching tools for her helping? Isn’t fetching water for everyone helping? Or is it just because I didn’t help you, so you call me selfish?”
“If you’re such a mess yourself, don’t resent others for doing better. If I were you, I’d spend less time talking and more time working—so others wouldn’t have to help you while you slack off. You’re the slowest one here and still dragging everyone down. Tsk, tsk.”
Lin Erxia didn’t even need to go all out. Xie Xiaolian’s tactics were too simple—she just returned the sarcasm in kind.
Grinding her teeth, Xie Xiaolian hadn’t expected this “pauper” to be so sharp-tongued. “You don’t need to worry about me. Not everyone is as cold and heartless as you.”
“Oh? So you’re very helpful, then?”
“At least I’m not as cold as you,” Xie Xiaolian said without hesitation.
That made Lin Erxia laugh. She hadn’t even sorted herself out, yet she was making grand claims.
Turning to Wang Gaoli, Lin Erxia said, “Why are you still working? Isn’t there a great kind-hearted person here ready to help you weed?”
Wang Gaoli played along, tossing her shovel aside and sitting down. “Sure, I’ll wait for Miss Kindhearted to help me. But she hasn’t even done as much as I have—won’t I have to wait until midnight?”
By now, everyone could tell something was off. With how little work Xie Xiaolian had done, what right did she have to talk about helping others? Even now, Xie Qinglan was helping her—wasn’t she just all talk?
Xie Xiaolian’s eyes reddened as Lin Erxia and Wang Gaoli sang in tandem, anger overwhelming her. She flung her hands and turned to run.
But after just a couple of steps, Lin Erxia called out loudly, “If you dare run, I’ll report you for slacking off and refusing to participate in labor.”
With tears welling in her eyes, Xie Xiaolian had no choice but to come back. She lowered her head and resumed working, sobbing quietly. Only Xie Qinglan offered a few words of comfort—no one else spoke.
Lin Erxia sat there unmoving, still smiling. So when words failed, she resorted to crying and playing weak? Too bad—that didn’t work on her.
All she could say was: don’t try tricks on her. Such petty tactics wouldn’t fool her.
Wang Gaoli snorted at Xie Xiaolian. Shen Xiaoxue patted her shoulder, and she picked up her shovel again. After a moment, she spoke in a voice neither too loud nor too soft:
“Lin Erxia, I helped you call her out—aren’t you going to help me in return?”
Lin Erxia remained calm and unmoved. “She was pointing fingers at you and scolding you. If you didn’t speak up, you’d be the one with a problem.”
Amid the tense atmosphere, with only Xie Xiaolian’s quiet sobbing in the background, the two of them chatted and laughed, making everything feel even more absurd.
Wang Gaoli suddenly broke into a grin. “Lin Erxia, I really like your temperament. Fine—I’ll make you my friend.”
Lin Erxia rolled her eyes. As if she wanted that.
Things had taken a bizarre turn. Xie Xiaolian tried to help, only to get scolded by both of them—and in the end, those two even became friends. It left everyone stunned, except for Shen Xiaoxue, who seemed used to it.
Lin Erxia stayed there because she was waiting for Xu Ru. As the group leader, Xu Ru would definitely be the last to leave and would have to return the tools. By the end, only Xie Qinglan and Xie Xiaolian were left on their side.
Next door, Lin Zhuer was still there as well, accompanied by a few girls muttering among themselves.